24th Sunday of the Year (A)

24th Sunday of the Year (A) - September 11, 2011

Liturgical readings

Sirach 27:30 - 28:9
Psalm 103
Romans 14:7-9
Matthew 18:21-35

"Not seven times; but seventy times seven times."

When Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive his brother, Jesus simply replied: "Seventy times seven times". To know the meaning of this response from Jesus, bible scholars give a clue. Their studies say that the number 7 in the Bible connotes perfection. Applying this meaning to the response of Jesus to Peter, Jesus would not have meant a specific number of times one should forgive his brother. Rather, for lack of exact terminology, and to speak figuratively, Jesus meant "perfect mercy" or "perfect forgiveness". And this the Lord has shown a very good example to all by forgiving His very executioners from the Cross. Remember what He said: "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."

All people, at one time or another, know of others in their life who have hurt them. In the same manner, they too are aware of the trespasses they have committed against others as well. St. Josemaria Escriva (who founded Opus Dei, and encouraged its members to make confession regularly) says that it would be difficult to forgive if one does not remember a good deed done by people who have committed a transgression against us. But when this counsel of St. Josemaria Escriva is followed and there is prayer for the grace to forgive, this will certainly purify and purge the heart from all forms of resentment and the desire to repay evil for evil. Healing the hurts within is not instant, but God's healing power in His Word and Sacrament, in time, can indeed heal all wounds in life.

At present, when political conflict appears to intensify in many local and global environments, there is a need to be very prudent to avoid hurting or damaging severely any life, relationship or person that can have repercussions to the greater good. Not all are called to be martyrs or victims like our Lord Jesus, St. Stephen the Deacon (Acts 7:60), and Blessed John Paul II (who forgave his assassin publicly). But by the circumstances of living ordinarily in life and work, the majority of the faithful can simply pray patiently for those who have cause hurt and make a sincere act of faith to forgive them, as God Himself has forgiven each one of us from our own acts of hurting others - intentionally or not intentionally.